Editing Plum, Pennsylvania

{{Short description|Borough in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{For|the township|Plum Township, Pennsylvania}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
 | name                     = Plum, Pennsylvania
 | settlement_type          = [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|Borough]]
<!-- *** Image *** --> | image_skyline            = OakmontCountryClub.jpg
 | image_caption            = [[Oakmont Country Club]]<br />National Register of Historic Places
<!-- *** Symbols *** -->
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
 | image_map                = Allegheny County Pennsylvania incorporated and unincorporated areas Plum highlighted.svg
 | mapsize                  = 260px
 | map_caption              = Location in [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny County]] and the U.S. state of [[Pennsylvania]].
 | coordinates              = {{coord|40|29|55|N|79|45|16|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
 | subdivision_type         = Country
 | subdivision_name         = [[United States]]
 | subdivision_type1        = State
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Pennsylvania]]
 | subdivision_type2        = County
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny]]
<!-- Politics ----------------->
 | established_title        = Founded as Plum Township
 | established_date         = 1788
<!-- Area    --------------------->
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 28.94
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 28.57
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.37
 | area_water_percent       = 1.34
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_total         = 27144
 | website                  = {{URL|www.plumboro.com}}
 | pop_est_as_of            = 
 | pop_est_footnotes        = 
 | population_est           = 
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 42-61536
 | area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='42'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref>
 | area_total_km2           = 74.95
 | area_land_km2            = 74.00
 | area_water_km2           = 0.96
 | population_density_sq_mi = 950.09
 | population_density_km2   = 366.83
 | population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:42&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=Oct 12, 2022}}</ref>
 | pushpin_map              = Pennsylvania#USA
 | pushpin_label            = Plum
 | blank_name_sec1          = [[School district]]
 | blank_info_sec1          = [[Plum Borough School District|Plum Borough]]
}}

'''Plum''' is a [[Borough (Pennsylvania)|borough]] in [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 27,144 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web|title=Data Commons|url=https://datacommons.org/place/geoId/4261536|access-date=March 2, 2021}}</ref> A suburb of the [[Pittsburgh metropolitan area]], it is located northeast of the city in what is commonly referred to as the East Hills suburbs.

Plum is often referred to as "Plum Boro" or more correctly "Plum Borough" by locals to distinguish it from its previous status as a [[Township (Pennsylvania)|township]]. It was founded as Plum Township in 1788 and was reorganized as a borough in 1956. The borough took its name from nearby [[Plum Creek (Allegheny River)|Plum Creek]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a4NIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G24DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2867%2C2505444 | title=Town names carry a little bit of history | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date=May 10, 1984 | access-date=26 May 2015 | author=Porter, Thomas J. Jr. | pages=1}}</ref>

==History==
Plum Township was founded on December 18, 1788, as one of the original seven townships of Allegheny County. It originally extended as far south as [[Versailles Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Versailles]] (modern-day [[North Versailles Township, Pennsylvania|North Versailles Township]]), east to the county line, west to [[Pitt Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Pitt Township]], and north to the [[Allegheny River]]. Plum has shrunk greatly over the years in area, but still remains among the larger municipalities in Allegheny County.<ref name="Kordalski2011">{{cite book |last1=Kordalski |first1=Frank Jr. |title=Plum Borough |date=May 16, 2011 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9780738574332 |url=https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9780738574332}}</ref>

The 1889 history of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, describes the township as having "no villages of importance", but listed the first postoffice, Antrim, 1840–1857; New Texas, a hamlet, in the geographic center of the township with "the usual mechanics, local stores, etc.", post office from 1856; and [[Logans Ferry Mine Tunnel|Logan's Ferry]], on the Allegheny River and Allegheny Valley railroad, in the northeastern part of the township, deriving its name from early settler Alexander Logan and family, post office from 1844.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cushing |first1=Thomas |title=History of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania |date=1889 |publisher=A. Warner & Co. |location=Chicago |page=129 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofalleghe1889cush/page/129/mode/2up?q=texas}}</ref>

===House Explosions===
Plum has a history of house explosions in beginning in 1996 where one person was killed and one person injured, the explosion was caused by failure of gas pipes. Another explosion on March 5, 2008, which killed one and injured one was also caused by failure of gas pipes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://triblive.com/local/valley-news-dispatch/plum-has-history-of-house-explosions/|title=Plum has history of house explosions|first=Brian C.|last=Rittmeyer|date=August 12, 2023|website=TribLIVE.com}}</ref> On April 22, 2022, an explosion happened which injured five and the cause has yet to be determined.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/plum-home-explosion-not-the-first-in-neighborhood/|title=Plum Borough home explosion not the first in the neighborhood - CBS Pittsburgh|first=Erika|last=Stanish|date=April 23, 2022|website=www.cbsnews.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/plum-house-explosion-2022-investigation-hialeah-drive/|title=Investigation finds no evidence 2022 Plum house explosion was caused by public utility equipment - CBS Pittsburgh|date=September 5, 2023|website=www.cbsnews.com}}</ref> An explosion on August 12, 2023, killed six and injured two and the cause is being investigated.<ref>https://www.pritzkerlaw.com/personal-injury/2023/plum-pa-house-explosion-4-dead-1-missing/#:~:text=Killed in the blast were,body%2C died on August 16.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/plum-house-explosion-originated-inside/|title=Fatal Plum house explosion originated inside, fire marshal says - CBS Pittsburgh|date=September 8, 2023|website=www.cbsnews.com}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|29.0|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|28.6|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.4|sqmi}}, or 1.34%, is water. Plum Borough is the second largest borough (area-wise) in the state of Pennsylvania.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.plumboro.com/about-the-borough-of-plum|title=About the Borough of Plum {{!}} Plum PA|date=2013-06-03|website=www.plumboro.com|language=en|access-date=2018-04-20}}</ref>

===Streams===
* [[Pucketa Creek]] joins the [[Allegheny River]] where the creek forms the boundary between the borough of Plum and the city of [[Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania|Lower Burrell]].<ref name="GNIS1">{{Cite gnis|id=1184482|name=Pucketa Creek|access-date=2009-12-02}}</ref>
* Abers Creek
* [[Plum Creek (Allegheny River)|Plum Creek]] rises in the borough.<ref name="GNIS2">{{Cite gnis|id=1184110|name=Plum Creek|access-date=2010-12-18}}</ref>
** Little Plum Creek

===Surrounding communities===
* [[Monroeville, Pennsylvania|Monroeville]] (south)
* [[Penn Hills Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Penn Hills]] (west)
* [[Oakmont, Pennsylvania|Oakmont]] (west)
* [[Harmar Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Harmar Township]] (north across [[Allegheny River]])
* [[Cheswick, Pennsylvania|Cheswick]] (north across Allegheny River)
* [[Springdale, Pennsylvania|Springdale]] (north across Allegheny River)
* [[Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania|Lower Burrell]] (north, in [[Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania|Westmoreland County]])
* [[New Kensington, Pennsylvania|New Kensington]] (north, in Westmoreland County)
* [[Upper Burrell Township, Pennsylvania|Upper Burrell Township]] (northeast, in Westmoreland County)
* [[Murrysville, Pennsylvania|Murrysville]] (east, in Westmoreland County)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1960= 10241
|1970= 21932
|1980= 25390
|1990= 25609
|2000= 26940
|2010= 27126
|2020= 27144
|footnote=Sources:<ref name="Census1960">{{cite web|title=Number of Inhabitants: Pennsylvania|url=http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/17216604v1p40ch02.pdf|work=18th Census of the United States|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=22 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="Census1990">{{cite web|title=Pennsylvania: Population and Housing Unit Counts|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-40.pdf|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=22 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref><ref name="CensusPopEst">{{cite web|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population|url=https://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012-3.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=22 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019235623/http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012-3.html|archive-date=19 October 2013}}</ref>
}}
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 27,126 people, 10,528 households, and 7,431 families living in the borough. The population density was 935.4 people per square mile. There were 10,528 housing units at an average density of 363.0 per square mile. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial makeup]] of the borough was 93.9% White, 3.6% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9%.<ref name="GR2" />

There were 10,528 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples living together and 29.4% were non-families. 24.5% of households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09.

The age distribution was 24.2% under the age of 20, 2.5% from 20 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% 65 or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males.

The median household income was $66,680 and the median family income was $74,941. Males had a median income of $54,119 versus $40,625 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,474. About 3.8% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and politics==
Boroughs in Pennsylvania (including Plum) are governed by a Mayor-Council system; in which the mayor has only a few powers and the council is the main legislative body.<ref>{{cite web |title=Plum Boro: Government |url=https://www.plumboro.com/government |access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref> As of January 2020, the mayor is Harry Schlegel.

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Presidential Elections Results<ref>{{cite web|last1=EL|title=2012 Allegheny County election|url=http://triblive.com/politics/2907065-74/pittsburgh-ward-hills-west-borough-braddock-east-elizabeth-north-park|website=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|access-date=15 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=EL|title=2016 Pennsylvania general election...|url=http://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/electionresultsgen2016/|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=15 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/PA/Allegheny/106267/web.264614/#/detail/0004|title = Election Night Reporting}}</ref>
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Pennsylvania, 2020|2020]]'''
|  style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|''54%'' ''9,019''
|  style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|''44%'' ''7,406''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|''2%'' ''256''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Pennsylvania, 2016|2016]]'''
|  style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|''58%'' ''8,224''
|  style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|''41%'' ''5,739''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|''1%'' ''121''
|-
| style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Pennsylvania, 2012|2012]]'''
|  style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Republican}}|''57%'' ''7,723''
|  style="text-align:center; {{Party shading/Democratic}}|''42%'' ''5,633''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|''1%'' ''119''
|}

==Education==
The [[Plum Borough School District]] serves resident students living across Plum Borough in grades K–12. The district operates five school buildings:  O’Block Elementary School (K-4), Pivik Elementary School (K-4), Holiday Park Intermediate School (5-6), Plum Middle School (7-8), and [[Plum High School|Plum Senior High School]] (9–12). The latest redistricting was approved by the Plum Borough School Board in 2018. There were once three other elementary schools, which were called Renton Elementary School, Regency Park Elementary, and the other called Adlai E. Stevenson, both have since been torn down. The Plum Borough School District is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors.<ref name="Divittorio2018">{{cite news |last1=Divittorio |first1=Michael |title=Plum School District reconfiguration options to be narrowed down at committee meeting |url=https://triblive.com/local/plum/13358992-74/plum-school-district-reconfiguration-options-to-be-narrowed-down-at-committee-meeting |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |date=March 2, 2018}}</ref>

Plum Borough is also serviced by the Plum Borough Community Library. The library houses the history room of the Allegheny Foothills Historical Society (the Historical Society also provides tours of the reconstructed Carpenter Family Log House in Boyce Park).

==Landmarks==
* [[Oakmont Country Club]] is partially located within Plum's borders, according to Google Maps. The course has been consistently ranked as one of the five best by ''[[Golf Digest]]'' 100 Greatest Golf Courses in America. In 2007, Oakmont placed 5th by the magazine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.golfdigest.com/courses/americasgreatest/index.ssf?/courses/americasgreatest/gd200705greatestranking.html |title=America's 100 Greatest Courses |work=[[Golf Digest]] |date=May 2007 |access-date=2007-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070607164409/http://www.golfdigest.com/courses/americasgreatest/index.ssf?%2Fcourses%2Famericasgreatest%2Fgd200705greatestranking.html |archive-date=2007-06-07 |url-status=live }}</ref>  It is one of only a few courses ranked every year in the top ten of the publication's history. The top 50 toughest courses rank Oakmont also at No. 5,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.golfdigest.com/courses/index.ssf?/courses/gd200703toughestcourses2.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130111022713/http://www.golfdigest.com/courses/index.ssf?/courses/gd200703toughestcourses2.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2013-01-11 | title =  America's 50 Toughest Golf Courses | work = [[Golf Digest]] |date=March 2007 | access-date = 2007-06-10 }}</ref> while GolfLink.com ranks it at No. 3 overall.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.golflink.com/top-golf-courses/ | title = Top 100 United States Golf Courses | year = 2007 | access-date = 2007-06-10 | work = Golf Link }}</ref>  It hosted its ninth [[U.S. Open (golf)|U.S. Open]] in 2016, the most of any course.
* The portion of the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]] from mile markers 49 through 55 crosses through Plum.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.unityvfd.org/about_us.html| title =  About Unity Volunteer Fire Department |year = 2009 | access-date = 2009-09-12 }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[William D. Boyce]], founder of the [[Boy Scouts of America]]
* [[Pat McAfee]], media personality, former punter for [[Indianapolis Colts]], former punter/kicker [[West Virginia Mountaineers football]] team
* [[Elias (wrestler)|Elias]] (real name Jeffrey Sciullo), professional [[WWE]] wrestler
* [[Alex Kirilloff]], professional baseball player for [[Minnesota Twins]]
* [[R. J. Umberger]], former [[National Hockey League]] player
* [[Matt Morgan (American football)|Matt Morgan]], former tackle for the [[St. Louis Rams]] and [[Buffalo Bills]]; former tackle [[University of Pittsburgh]] football team.
* [[Thea Hail]], professional [[WWE]] wrestler.

==See also==
* [[Logans Ferry Mine Tunnel]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.plumboro.com/ Plum Borough official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080918225146/http://www.plumhistory.org/ Allegheny Foothills Historical Society]

{{Pittsburgh Metro Area}}
{{Allegheny County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Pennsylvania}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places established in 1788]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1788 establishments in Pennsylvania]]